Article

Brive deny Worcester after stadium swap

Brive climbed above Worcester Warriors to qualify for the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a 33-7 win, but only after the match had been postponed and then moved to an alternative venue.

Heavy rain in Correze rendered the Stade Amedee-Domenech surface unplayable, but Stade Alexandre-Cueille in nearby Tulle stepped in to host the match later in the day.

And the bonus-point victory saw Brive dislodge Worcester to become one of three best-placed runners-up, finishing nine points behind Pool 5 winners Connacht, who thumped Oyonnax 50-14 on Saturday.

It was a similar story for Stade Francais, whose 17-10 win against Edinburgh earned them a place alongside the Pool 4 leaders in the last eight, while London Irish finished third despite a 24-17 win against Krasny Yar.

A 33-17 win for the Dragons over Bordeaux Begles was not enough to see them through, with Stade snatching their spot in the final match of the day, and there was a 33-19 win for Pool 1 victors Newcastle Falcons against Enisei STM.

Cardiff Blues were already assured of winning Pool 2 and finished off with a 21-18 victory at Lyon, but they will be the group's only representatives in the last eight after Sale Sharks lost 28-21 in Toulouse.

The day's remaining clash saw Zebre beat Agen 38-30 in Pool 3, with Pau and Gloucester having already taken the top two spots.